Boiler cleaner



F. BQWERS BOILER CLEANER July 10, 1934.

Original Filed Nov. 17, 1920 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR 1 73271? Jam 6r:

ATTORNEYS Jul 10, 1934. F BOWERS 1,966,197

BOILER CLEANER Original. Filed Nov. 17 1920 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented July 10, 1934 UNETED STATES PATENT OFFICE BOILER Frank Bowers, Detroit, Mich,

Diamond Power Speci CLEANER assignor to alty Corporation, Detroit,

Mich, a corporation of Michigan 1929, Serial No. 348,093.

20 Claims.

This invention relates to boiler cleaners and has particular reference to a boiler cleaner adapted to discharge jets of cleaning fluid adjacent the surfaces of a boiler or the like, to be cleaned.

An object of this invention is to provide a boiler cleaner having a movable blower. element, having means for controlling the supply of cleaning fluid to the blower element, and having means for moving the blower element for directing the jets of cleaning fluid discharged from the same adjacent those surfaces to be cleaned.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a boiler cleaner having a blower element, having a valve for controlling the flow of cleaning 15 fluid to the element the valve being operable only by the application of a substantial force by virtue of the pressure of the cleaning fluid, and having means for utilizing the pressure of the cleaning fluid for actuating the valve.

This application is a division of my co-pending application, Serial No. 424,612, filed November 1'7, 1920.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become more apparent as the following description proceeds, particularly when reference is had to the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a front elevational view of the invention;

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the invention;

Figure 3 is a central vertical sectional view of the head and valve used in the invention;

Figure 4 is a central sectional view of a cap used in the invention;

Figure 5 is a sectional view of a valve used in the invention taken on substantially line 5-5 of Figure 6;

Figure 6 is a horizontal central sectional view of a valve used in the invention.

The preferred form of construction consists of a 10 blower unit 10 which is swivelly mounted in a head 11. Rigidly mounted upon the member 10 adjacent the end which is positioned within the head 11 is a gear 12 which meshes with a smaller gear 13, both of said gears being positioned within the 45 head 11. The gear 13 is rigidly mounted upon one end of a shaft 14, upon the opposite end of which is rigidly mounted a sheave wheel 15. Positioned upon the sheave wheel 15 is a flexible element which is preferably a chain. As will be readily 50 understood the wheel 15 may be rotated through the medium of the chain 16 and thereby rotation of the blower unit 10 is brought about.

In the operation of cleaners of this class the fluid most commonly used is steam. The head 11 55 is provided adjacent its under surface with an Renewed March 23,

opening with which communicates a supply pipe 17 which communicates with a suitable source of supply of cleaning fluid. The head 11 is provided with a suitable opening 18 which communicates with the supply pipe 17. In this opening 18 is positioned one end of the blower unit or perforated pipe 10, permitting the blower unit to extend forwardly of the head 11 and into the interior of the boiler setting.

Formed in the rear of the head 11 is an opening 19 which communicates with the opening 18. Positioned in this opening 19 is a suitable piston head 20 provided with a shoulder or stud portion 20' to which is attached a valve 21. As shown in Figure 3 the valve 21 is surrounded by the cham ber 22 so that fluid entering the head through the pipe 17 is allowed to circulate around the entire valve. A spiral spring is positioned within the head, one end of said spring 23 resting against the piston head 20. The opposite end of said spring 23 engages a cap 24 which is secured to the head 11 by means of bolts 24' and serves as a closure for the opening 19.

Piston rings 25 are positioned upon the piston head 20 and serve to prevent any escape of cleaning fluid around the piston head. The head 20 is movable in the opening 19 and when moved to its forward position causes the valve 21 to rest upon a valve seat 26 and thereby close communication between the opening 18 and the supply pipe 17. This is the normal position of this valve, the spring 23 serving to retain the valve in its normally closed position. In order to open the valve it is apparent that the piston head 20 must be moved in the opening 19 so as to compress the spring 23.

Positioned within a pocket formed in the cap 2&1 is a valve 2'7 provided with a valve stem 28 which projects exterior-1y of the cap 24. Formed in the head at one side there is a passageway 29 which communicates at one end with the opening 22 and at its opposite end with an opening 30 formed in the cap 24. This opening 30 communicates with a passageway 31 which opens into the pocket formed in the cap 24. A ball valve 32 is provided in the open end of this passageway 31 so as to close this end of this passage as will be readily understood.

Formed in the cap 24, diametrically opposite the passage 31 is an exhaust passage 34 which provides a connection between the pocket formed in the cap and the exterior of said cap. The valve 2'? which is in the nature of a disc is positioned in the pocket formed in the cap and is provided on its periphery with a pocket 33, communicating with which are peripheral bleed passages 37.

Formed in the valve 27 is an additional pocket 35 communicating with which are bleed passages 36. It is to be noted that these bleed passages 36 terminate at a point which is substantially diametrically opposite to the pocket 33.

When the pocket 33 is in alignment with the passage 31 the ball valve 32 serves as a closure for the passage 31, the ball 32 projecting into the pocket 33. When such a condition exists the bleed passages 36 will be in communication with the exhaust passage 34 and thereby the steam contained within the opening 19 will be exhausted since the pocket 35 communicates with open space 19 by means of a forwardly extending passage 35.

Upon turning the valve so that the ball valve 32 rides on the periphery of the valve 27, the passage 31 is in communication with bleed passage 37 thereby allowin' the steam to enter opening 19 through the pocket 33. The pocket 35 is then in alignment with the passage 34. The steam entering space 19 flows through the passage-way 35' and into the pocket 35 forcing a ball B, which is positioned in the pocket 35, against the end of the passage 34 so as to close the exhaust. This is the normal position of the valve when the blower is not being operated.

It is to be noted that when the valve is in its normal position the steam from the supply pipe fills the opening 19 and the opening 22 so that pressure is exerted upon both sides of the piston head 20. When such is the case the spiral spring 23, together with the somewhat greater steam pressure exerted against this face of piston 20 as compared to that exerted against the opposite face, serves to retain the valve 21 against the valve seat 26. When the valve is so positioned as to allow the ball 32 to project into pocket 33 the bleed passages 36 communicate with the exhaust passage 34 and the steam contained in the opening 19 is allowed to escape. When such is the case, the steam pressure from the pipe 17 is exerted on the forward side of the piston head 20 and forces the same rearwardly against the pressure of the spring 23. This opens communication between the pipe 17 and the blower unit 10.

To provide means for operating this valve so that steam or other cleaning fluid will be admitted to the blower unit during the entire rotation of the unit, a bar 38 is securely fastened to the head 11 by means of bolts 38'. To the opposite ends of this bar 33 are pivotally mounted sleeve or guide members 39 and 39 respectively through each of which chain 16 projects after passing around or over the wheel 15. A stud 40 projects forwardly from each of said sleeves, each stud being threaded at its end and projected through the member 38. A suitabl nut 41 is provided for securing this threaded end in position relative to the bar 38.

Rigidly attached at one end to the member 39 is a link 42 the opposite end of which is pivoted to one end of a link 43, the opposite end of said link 43 being rigidly attached to the valve stem 28. Attached to the sleeve 39 at one end, is a link 44. the opposite end of said link being pivotally secured to the link 43 at the point at which is attached the link 42, there being a longitudinal slot connection between the links 42 and 43. It is apparent that upon swinging the free ends of said sleeves so as to cause them to recede from each other the valve stem is caused to turn. It is also apparent that any downward strain exerted upon the depending end of the chain 16 will caus v the sleeves to recede from each other at their free ends.

When the blower unit is to be rotated counterclockwise in Figure 1 by rotating the sheave l5 clockwise in that figure, the operator pulls on the righthand part of the chain 16. The initial pull swings the sleeve 39 on its pivot 40 against the pressure of spring 45, because of the normal angular position of the sleeve in relation to the downwardly extending chain and because the resistance to rotation of the unit and therefore of the sheave 15 provides a temporary holding of he upper end of the chain 16. This instantly causes valve 21 to be unseated by the pressure of the steam from the pipe 17 and consequently the steam flows into the blower unit. Continued pulling on the chain 16 rotates the sheave l5 and the unit. The parts preferably are proportioned so that the sleeve 39 is vertical when the arm 43 and the valve 27 have been rotated to bring the space 19 into communication with the exhaust port 34, so that the chain may pass freely through the sleeve in a substantially straight line. Obviously, so long as the chain 16 is pulled, the valve 21 will remain open because the sleeve 39 will be held in its vertical position.

If the unit is to be oscillated, instead of being continuously rotated in one direction, it will be obvious that the left-hand part of the chain 16 in Figure 1 must be pulled. If the right-hand part of the chain is released before the left-hand part is pulled, the spring 45 will return the parts to the position of Figure 1 and cause the valve 21 to close. As soon as pull is exerted on the lefthand part of the chain, however, the valve 21 will again be opened just before the unit begins its return rotation.

Obviously, if desired, this closing and opening of valve 21 between each change of direction of rotation of the unit may be avoided by holding the two parts of the chain. 16 at all times under at least enough pressure to prevent the operation of the spring 45. Then as the pulling pressure is transferred from side to side of chain 16, the valve 21 will remain open.

It will also be noted that the valve 21 may be opened by merely swinging the right-hand part of the chain sidewise to the right in Figure 1 without pulling on it, this sidewise motion opening the valve 21 and then the chain may be pulled to rotate the unit. When so operated, however, the valve 21 will be opened before the unit begins to rotate, precisely as when the chain 16 is merely pulled downward. It will also be obvious that, because of the shifting of the position of the sleeve, the chain 16 is swung bodily to the right of Figure 1, even when the chain is pulled to start the operation. In other words, whether the chain is first swung to the right and then pulled, v .2

or whether the operator merely pulls on the chain, the parts are moved to the same position, the sleeve 3 swinging on its pivot and the chain moving to the right of Figure 1.

Thus it will be seen that when either of the sleeves are moved, the valve 27 will be actuated to either vent the chamber 19 or to close communication between this chamber and the atmosphere and to open communication between this chamber and the cleaning fluid supply. When the chamber 19 is vented the pressure of the cleaning fluid opens the valve 21, thus permitting a flow of cleaning fluid from the supply pipe to the blower element. Thus the pressure of the cleaning fluid moves the valve to actuate the same and the valve is always opened in advance of the rotation of the blower element.

For the sake of convenience the invention has been described as being incorporated in a device for cleaning boilers and the like. It will be apparent, however, that the inventive principles disclosed may be incorporated in devices for cleaning apparatuses similar to boilers, and it is to be therefore understood that the term boiler wherever used in the specification or claims is to be construed as meaning a heat transfer apparatus or fluid heater of any character, while the term boiler cleaner is to be construed as meaning a cleaner for any such apparatus.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred form of construction for carrying my invention into effect this is capable of variations and modifications without departing from the spirit or" the invention. 1, therefore, do not wish to be limited to the precise details of my invention, but desire to avail myself of such variations and modifications as some within the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. The combination with a boiler cleaner comprising a head, a blow r unit and means for supplying cleaning fluid to said unit through said head, of a valve mounted in said head for controlling the delivery of said fluid to said unit, said valve having a fluid pressure responsive member arranged to move said valve, the forward side of which is acted upon by the cl aning fluid, resilient means for normally retaining the valve in closed position, a port permitting the access of said fluid to the rearward side of said fluid pressure responsive member, means for controlling the flow of said fluid through said port and a single means for operating said last-mentioned means and rotating said blower unit.

2. In a boiler cleaner, the combination with a rotatable blower unit adapted to discharge jets of cleaning fluid, or" means for supplying cleaning fluid to said unit, a main valve of relatively large area for controlling the supply of cleaning fluid to said unit, a piston connected to said main valve, a cylinder in which said piston is adapted to move, a duct to connect the supply of cleaning fluid with said cylinder, an auxiliary valve of relatively small area to control the supply of cleaning fluid through said duct to said cylinder, hand operated means so connected to said blower unit as to rotate the same upon movement of said hand operated means, and connections between said rotating means and said auxiliary valve to actuate said auxiliary valve from said means.

3. In a boiler cleaner, the combination with a rotatable blower unit adapted to discharge jets of cleaning fluid, of a hand-operated powertransmitting member so connected to said blower unit as to rotate the same upon movement of said hand operated power transmitting member, a source of cleaning fluid under high pressure and connectible to said unit, a main valve of relatively large area for controlling the supply of cleaning .fluid to said unit from said source, a member adapted to be moved by fluid pressure connected to said valve for actuating the same, said member having a forward side exposed to the pressure of the cleaning fluid, a duct connecting the source of high pressure cleaning fluid with the rear side of said fluid pressure actuated member, an auxiliary valve or" small area controlling said duct, and connections between said hand-operated member and said auxiliary valve to operate said auxiliary valve.

4. The combination with a boiler cleaner, having a rotatable blower element, a valve controlled uid passage, and means causing rotation of the blower element in timed relation to the unseating or" the valve, of means acted upon by the first mentioned means for causing the fluid to act to unseat the valve.

5. The combination with a boiler cleaner having a rotatable blower element, a valve controlled fluid passage, and means causing rotation of the blower elei .ent in timed relation to the unseating of the valve, of means controlled by an initial movement of the first said means for causing the pressure of the fluid to unseat the valve to ad- 1 iit fluid to the said blower element.

6. The combination with a boiler cleaner having a rotatable blower element, a valve controlled fluid passage, and means causing rotation of the blower element in timed relation to the unseating of the valve, of a fluid pressure actuated member connected to said valve for actuating the same, means for normally causing the cleaning fluid to act on opposite sides of said fluid pressure actuated member, and means controlled by the first said means for exhausting the fluid on one side of the fluid pressure actuated member whereupon the pressure of the fluid acting on the other si e of the fluid pressure actuated member will move the same to actuate the valve.

'7. The combination. with a boiler cleaner having a movable blower element, a valve controlling t e flow of cleaning fluid to said element, and means for moving said element, of means operated by said last mentioned means incident to movement thereof f or causing the cleaning fluid to move said valve.

8. The combination with a boiler cleaner having a movable blower element and a source of cleaning fluid under pressure, of a valve operable by the pressure of the cleaning fluid for controlling the flow of cleaning fluid to said element, means for moving said blower element, and means operated by said last mentioned means incident to movement thereof for controlling the operation of said valve by the cleaning fluid.

9. The combination with a boiler cleaner having a movable blower element and a source of cleaning fluid under pressure, of a valve for controlling the flow of cleaning fluid to said element, means for moving said blower element. and means including an auxiliary valve operated by movement of said last mentioned means incident to actuation thereof to effect an actuation of said first mentioned valve by the pressure of the cleaning fluid.

10. The combination with a movable blower element. a cleaning fluid supply pipe and a valve for controlling the flow of cleaning fluid from said supply pipe to said blower element, of a piston connected to said valve to actuate the same, means for moving said blower element, and means operated by said last mentioned means incident to movement thereof for causing the cleaning fluid to move said piston to actuate said valve.

11. The combination with a rotatable blower element, means for rotating said blower element, a cleaning fluid supply pipe and a valve controlling the flow of cleaning fluid to said element from said supply pipe, of means for actuating said valve by the pressure of the cleaning fluid, said means including a chamber closed at one end and having its open end communicating with said supply pipe, 2. piston connected to said valve and reciprocable in said chamber, means providing for the building up of pressure in the closed end of said chamber to prevent movement of said piston by the pressure of the cleaning fluid and means operated by said rotating means incident to actuation thereof for exhausting the pressure in the closed end of the chamber.

12. The combination with a rotatable blower element, means for rotating said blower element, a cleaning fluid supply pipe and a valve controlling the flow of cleaning fluid to said element from said supply pipe, of means for actuating said valve by the pressure of the cleaning fluid, said means including a chamber closed at one end and having its open end communicating with said supply pipe, a piston connected to said valve and reciprocable in said chamber, means providing for the building up of pressure in the closed end of said chamber to prevent movement of said piston by the pressure of the cleaning fluid, and a valve operated by said rotating means incident to operation thereof for exhausting the pressure in the closed end of the chamber.

13. The combination with a rotatable blower element, a cleaning fluid supply pipe and a valve for controlling the flow of cleaning fluid from said supply pipe to said blower element, said valve being arranged to open against the flow of cleaning fluid, of means for rotating said blower element, and means operated by said last mentioned means incident to actuation thereof to cause the cleaning fluid to open said valve.

14. The combination with a rotatable blower element, a cleaning fluid supply pipe, and a valve for controlling the flow of cleaning fluid from said supply pipe to said blower element, of a piston connected to said valve, means including a flexible member for rotating said blower element, means operating upon actuation of said flexible member to eflect a reduction in pressure on one side of said piston to eifect an opening of said valve, and means operating upon release of said flexible member to eflect an increase of pressure on one side of said piston to efiect a closing of said valve.

15. The combination with a rotatable blower element, a cleaning fluid supply pipe, and a valve for controlling the flow of cleaning fluid from said supply pipe to said blower element, of a member connected to said valve for actuating the same, means for equalizing the pressure of the cleaning fluid on opposite sides of said member, means acting on said member for holding said valve closed when the pressure of the cleaning fluid on opposite sides of said member is equalized, means for rotating the blower element, and means actuated by said last mentioned means to efiect an unbalancing of the pressure of the cleaning fluid on opposite sides of said member in such a manner that the pressure of the cleaning fluid will move said member to open the valve.

16. The combination with a rotatable blower element, a cleaning fluid supply pipe, and a valve controlling the flow of cleaning fluid from said supply pipe to said blower element, of a piston connected to said valve to actuate the same, a chamber in which said piston is mounted for reciprocation, one end of said chamber being censtantly exposed to the pressure of the cleaning fluid in said supply pipe and the other end of said chamber being provided with a duct communicating with the atmosphere and being provided with a second duct communicating with said cleaning fluid supply pipe, valve means for controlling said ducts, and a single means for rotating said blower element and for actuating said valve means.

17. In a fluid heater cleaner, a movable blower element, means for moving said blower element, a valve controlling the flow of cleaning fluid to said blower element, and means including a member acted upon by the pressure of the cleaning fluid for opening the valve, the operation of said last mentioned means being dependent upon the prior actuation of the other of said means.

18. In a fluid heater cleaner, a movable blower element, a valve adapted to be opened by the pressure of the cleaning fluid for admitting cleaning fluid to the blower element, means controlling the admission of cleaning fluid to said valve to open the same, and a common means for moving said element and actuating said control means.

19. In a fluid heater cleaner, the combination of a movable blower element, a valve for controlling the flow of cleaning fluid to the blower element, means actuated by the pressure of the cleaning fluid for opening the valve, means for moving the blower element, and means providing that the actuation of said last mentioned means causes the pressure of the cleaning fluid to open the valve.

20. In a fluid heater cleaner the combination of a movable blower element, a valve for controlling the flow of cleaning fluid to the blower element, means actuated by the pressure of the cleaning fluid for opening the valve, means for moving the blower element, and a single means operating when actuated to actuate said valve opening means and said blower element moving means.

FRANK BOWERS. 

